By Saul Cooke-Black

TWO Wycliffe Preparatory School pupils aimed high for a charity challenge.

With the support of their two dads, James Clements and Matt Cole climbed 15 mountains in Wales in 48 hours.

The Welsh 3000s Challenge is to climb all 15 mountains in Wales that are over 3,000ft in 48 hours.

The Year 8 boys at the Stonehouse school have raised more than £600 for the James Hopkins Trust.

“We felt like Bear Grylls,” said Matt. “It was great being self-reliant.”

The boys, along with their dads, Richard Clements and Steve Cole, carried their kit and lived on Army rations.

They camped two nights on the mountains.

They admitted the challenge was far harder than they imagined.

Matt, 12, from Minchinhampton, was ill on their first night.

“By the end of second night my legs were wobbling and going downhill was tough,” he said. “I had to remember what we were doing it for – to help children with disabilities. When things got really tough James’ dad pulled out the magic medicine – Haribo sweets.”

James said they practised before the climb by walking with their rucksacks but that the challenge was still gruelling.

“On the third morning we managed to climb 2000ft in 90 minutes” said James, aged 13.

“It was gruelling but we were really proud of our achievement.”

“Every year the children take part in the school’s Kirby Challenge which is meant to inspire them to raise money for charity and to push themselves physically,” said Wycliffe Prep head Adrian Palmer.

“Matt and James did something truly out of the ordinary and tackled the challenge with great maturity and focus.”

The James Hopkins Trust helps severely disabled and sick children in Gloucestershire.